Voting power the best means of protest

IN this beautiful country we read, see and hear too much and too often about protests and demonstrations, often of a violent nature, by dissatisfied citizens.

On the eNCA news programme on Thursday evening (3 March), a woman was interviewed about the protest action they were undertaking.

The cameraman panned over the road, which had been trashed with burning tyres, branches and other debris before zooming to the primary school children who were dumping blocks and bricks onto the road, adding to the mess.

He then turned back to the women for comment.

I quote: ‘This is the only way we can get the attention of the ANC government to our plight of lack of service delivery.’

I would like to suggest to this lady and all her ilk, who trump up reasons to protest and demonstrate in these socially and democratically unacceptable ways, that there is a peaceful, positive, mature and responsible method where they are guaranteed to get the attention of the ANC government, or for that matter any government.

Simply – vote them out!

This is not going to happen in South Africa in the near future.

But any person who votes for the ANC in the coming municipal elections, or in any elections for that matter, has no right to protest or demonstrate against the government they elect.

JAMES BONNEY